Barada: We Have Completed 90% of the “December Agreements” and Rural Preschool Education Surpasses Urban Areas
Following a significant advancement in implementing government commitments towards educational staff, Minister of National Education, Preschool Education, and Sports, Mohamed Barada, announced that 90% of the contents of the new statutory framework and the promises made in the December 10 and 26 agreements have been activated. During a session of oral questions in the House of Representatives, the minister indicated that the ministry has issued 45 regulatory texts to implement these agreements, while the remaining 11 texts are in the final approval or preparation stages.
Regarding the preschool education initiative, Barada revealed a “digital leap” in rural areas, where enrollment has increased from 35% in 2018 to 81% currently, a rate that exceeds that recorded in urban areas. He attributed this success to the new approach that involved civil society organizations and the National Initiative for Human Development, in addition to the availability of land in villages. The minister reiterated the ministry’s commitment to achieving full enrollment by 2028, focusing in the next phase on improving pedagogical content and training educators.
In terms of educational infrastructure, the minister noted an increase in the number of community schools to 350 institutions, following the addition of 21 new schools this year. Barada believed that the success of this model hinges on the quality of school transportation and developing the pedagogical model, proposing a new vision that would allow first and second-grade students to remain in smaller local schools close to their homes until third grade, facilitating their psychological stability and the families’ acceptance of this transition.
The government official also highlighted the integration of preschool students into the “Massar” digital system, allowing precise tracking of children’s educational paths from the very beginning. He asserted that the current government has succeeded in addressing the delays experienced in this initiative since 2008, transforming preschool education from mere promises into a tangible reality that serves to promote spatial equity and advance Moroccan childhood.
